Health officials are planning a shake-up of services in community hospitals to help care for an ageing population.

They are planning more care with a specialist "roving" team providing mental health care for patients in the county's community hospitals.

There is also a proposal to move a children's mental health unit to Coalville Hospital.

Managers at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust who are planning the changes say that for the first time people, particularly the elderly, will get physical and mental health care in one place.

At the moment, care tends to focus either on mental or physical health.

The idea is to have a team of specialist mental health nurses and psychiatrists providing the care in community hospitals.

Rachel Bilsborough, divisional director for community health services, said: "This gives us a chance to provide care which combines physical health and mental care to patients in a community hospital near them.

"If you have an elderly person recovering from a broken hip and perhaps with a degree of dementia, they will get the help in one place and closer to people's homes.

"Nothing is set in stone at the moment. We want to get people's views but we are in a good position to provide more integrated services."

It is likely that Ward 4, which provides care for elderly patients with serious mental health illnesses at Coalville Hospital, will be mothballed for the moment.

Ward 3 at the hospital, which is currently empty, is set to be the base for 10 youngsters aged from 11 to 18 from across the East Midlands who need inpatient mental health services.

It will replace the Oakham House accommodation on the Towers Hospital.

Helen Thompson, divisional director, said: "Providing a safe and high quality service for our most vulnerable young people is our top priority.

"Coalville Hospital is regionally accessible and offers us a safe and efficient temporary solution as we find a longer term base.

"We would have preferred to move to a permanent location. However, we have not yet been able to secure appropriate and affordable accommodation."